Himeyuri Cenotaph, War memorial in Itoman, Japan
Himeyuri Cenotaph is a war memorial in Itoman, Japan, erected over a former cave where students and medical staff took shelter during the Battle of Okinawa. The monument bears engraved inscriptions and stands within a site that recalls the civilian losses that occurred here in the spring of 1945.
The monument was built after the war to honor 227 students and teachers from Himeyuri Girls' School who died while serving as nurses during World War II. The cave beneath was the site of an attack in the final days of fighting that claimed many young lives.
The monument rises from a well-kept area that invites quiet reflection on what happened to civilians caught in combat. School groups from across Japan visit this place to learn about the human cost of war and leave flowers at the base.
The site is located at the southern end of Okinawa and is easiest to reach by car or bus. A nearby museum offers additional context and opens from morning until late afternoon, though access to the outdoor grounds is free.
Nearby stands the entrance to the original cave that served as shelter and is now closed to visitors. You can still trace remains of fortifications and paths around the monument that recall the rapid evacuation and danger of those final days.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
